Things are Shaping Up at UTS

The Backstage Theatre Society stages the 2001 Neil LaBute play The Shape of Things at University of Technology, Sydney from October 2, 2014.

How far would you go for love? For art? The members of the Backstage Theatre Society return this October with a unique and contemporary adaption of The Shape of Things. Written by Neil LaBute, The Shape of Things was originally performed at the Almeida Theatre, London in 2001, starring Rachel Weisz and Paul Rudd in the title roles (both reprised their characters in the 2003 film adaptation) and continues to be a crushing indictment of society’s obsession with the surface of things.

The Shape of Things begins when Fine Arts student Evelyn shows an interest in the socially awkward and slightly overweight Adam, and suddenly his world is reshaped. Yet Adam’s radical change in lifestyle and appearance causes tensions to rise between his two closest friends, Jenny and Phil. The four of them become entangled in a manipulative game of sex and lies in this intense one-act play.

“To describe The Shape of Things in a few words makes it seem like your generic romantic comedy,” explains Producer Sam Langshaw when asked about the production. “A guy and a girl get together, she changes him. But Neil LaBute has created such a clever and thoughtful script that looks at how we act in relationships, what we give up and who we become.”

“The Shape of Things is a very subtle, complex play,” says Director Emily Burke. “I’ve found that people have widely different reactions to the characters. Evelyn, the main female, is particularly divisive; she does terrible things, but intellectually has a very strong argument for them. Some people cannot forgive the way the achieves her aims and find her despicable; some people are convinced that for her art it’s worthwhile. Labute forces us to reconsider the morals our society lives by. It’s also very witty, and speaks strongly to modern life.”

“We’ve got a great cast, and they make an eclectic combination - they all have quite different acting styles, so the dynamic between them is both interesting and realistic. And they’re exploring their characters in great depth, and finding a lot of subtlety and complexity to play with.”

The Shape of Things will be preformed in the Bon Marche studio, Level One, Building 3, 755 Harris Street, Broadway, NSW  at the University of Technology, Sydney. The show will run from Thursday October 2nd, through to Sunday October 5th, 2014 with curtains up at 7pm.

Ticket Prices
Concession/Student - $10
Adult - $15

Bookings

Cast: Rhiona Armont as Evelyn Benjamin Gageler as Adam James Manera as Phil Claudia Coy as Jenny

Creatives:
Directed by Emily Burke
Produced by Sam Langshaw
Publicity by Gabrielle Rawlings
Costume Design by Clare Roberts
Sound Design by James Longhurst
Props Coordinated by James Wilson
Photography by Stephen Godfrey